L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano GIOVEDÌ 23 GENNAIO 2014 www.italoamericano.com 15 A Requiem for world-renowned Italian conductor Claudio Abbado Continued from page 1 conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Vienna State Opera, principal guest conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and, from 1989 to 2002, principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. His career began at La Scala in 1960 and he went on to become musical director of the famous opera house until 1986. La Scala said illness forced Abbado to cancel two concerts in 2010 that were to have marked his return to the Milan Opera house for the first time in 25 years, and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his conducting debut. Born into a musical family (his father Michelangelo was a violinist and teacher at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan) in 1933, he began his musical studies on the violin and piano with his parents when he was 8. Then he trained at the Milan Conservatory before studying under Hans Swarowsky in Vienna. Passionate about young musicians, he founded many youth orchestras across Europe, including the European Youth Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Mozart Orchestra. Abbado was known for the directness and musicality of his performances. He was considered a particularly lyrical interpreter of Mahler, whose richly Attention Clubs and Organizations! Your Calendar item submissions are welcome. Items are due no later than three weeks prior to the date of the event. They may be emailed to linda@italoamericano . All submissions must include: Event, date, time and address of the event, brief description, as well as a phone number or website for additional information. Subject to editor's review and space availability. Not all items submitted will be published. Claudio Abbado was principal guest conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra emotional language he had absorbed as a student in Vienna. But he was also regarded as a distinguished conductor of Beethoven and Mozart, Schubert, and he had a flair for Russian symphonic music. He made his professional debut with Prokofiev's "Love for Three Oranges" in Trieste, in 1958. His repertory included Mozart and Wagner as well, but his real specialties were Rossini and Verdi, whose music he performed with respect for the artistry they embody rather than the showmanship they allow. Throughout his career he maintained a fondness for the music of Schoenberg, Berg and Webern, and he championed new works by Luigi Nono, Krzysztof Penderecki, Goffredo Petrassi, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Pierre Boulez, Luigi Dallapiccola and Giacomo Manzoni. His American career saw him in 1982 as principal guest conductor in Chicago, where he held the position until 1986. In 1989, he was again the favored candidate of one of the top American orchestras, the New York Philharmonic, where he had been an assistant conductor early in his career. But just when negotiations reached the point where Abbado was looking for an apartment in Manhattan, the Berlin Philharmonic named him to succeed Herbert von Karajan as its music director, a position he held until 2002. Appointed Senator for life for contributions to Italian culture, he received many awards and honors included two Grammy and four honorary doctorates. In April 2012 he was voted into the Gramaphone Hall of Fame. For foreign tourists Rome is the top Italian urban destination Continued from page 1 Venice comes in second place. The city has decayed since its heyday and now has more tourists than residents, but with its charm it remains one of the top tourist attractions in Italy. Third ranked Milan, the capital of fashion and luxury, a true temptation for businessmen and stylish people. In fourth position is the artistic and charming Florence, with its cathedral Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, symbol of the city and one of Italy's largest churches (until the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world but now it remains the largest brick dome ever constructed). Bologna ranks fifth, followed by Naples, The Gothic-Renaissance style Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence Herculaneum and Pompeii (today among Italy's most popular tourist attractions, with approximately 2,500,000 visitors every year), Sorrento, Pisa, Palermo and Verona. According to the same study, in 2013 the top foreign destination for Italians was London. Paris came second, followed by New York, Berlin, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Miami. Jan. 23, Thurs.-Italian American Lawyers Association (IALA) Special General Meeting with the Board of Directors from the NIABA (National Italian American Bar Association) at Casa Italiana (1051 N. Broadway, LA, CA 90012). Cocktails and Music at 6pm, Dinner and Program at 7pm. RSVP with meal selection at https//www.surveymonkey.com/s/NIABANight. For cost and additional information, email iala07@yahoo.com Jan 25, Sat.- Italian American Lawyers Association (IALA) Installation Ball at Samuel Oschin Pavillion at the California Science Center, at USC (700 Exposition Park Drive). Keynote Speaker: Umberto Guidoni, former member of European Parliament and ESA astronaut. 6:30pm-11pm. $100 per person. RSVP and meal selections at https://www.surveymonkey. com/s/2014InstallationBall. For information, email iala07@yahoo.com Jan. 26, Sun.-Maria S.S. di Costantinopoli General Meeting at 1pm at Casa Italiana for preparations for the upcoming March 9 Feast. Members are requested to make their reservations as soon as possible so we can prepare food for everyone present. For reservations call: Joe Deligio at 626-261-9848, Francesca Chesh Deligio 818-841-7034, or Maria Bruno 818-241-4672. Jan. 26, Sun.-POINTers (Italian genealogy group)-Luncheon 12:00 to 4:00 pm at Raffaello Ristorante (400 South Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731). For reservations and information call Diane at (310) 645-9442. Jan. 27, Mon.-ICF Branch 67 Polenta Dinner. 6:30pm at Casa Italiana (1051 N. Broadway, L.A. 90012). $20/Adults, $7/Children. For information/reservations contact: Teresa Thompson (323) 721-1673 mottino1227@gmail.com or Maria Teresa Bravo (310) 914-3186 mtbravo@ix.netcom.com or Lou Mages (805) 492-9858 pat.lou.mages@gmail.com or Nick M. D'Egidio (562) 947-2819 san1nicola@yahoo.com Jan. 30, Thurs.-Federated Italo-Americans of Southern California Dinner Meeting at Casa Italiana (1051 N. Broadway, L.A., 90012). 7pm Dinner ($15pp), 8pm Meeting (Installation of 2014-2015 Officers). RSVP REQUIRED: annpotenza@aol.com Feb. 1 Sat.: Grandsons of Italy in America Meeting at Victorio's Ristorante, 10901 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, 11:30 a.m. For info call (805) 529-9726. Feb. 6, Thurs.– Italian Movie Night 7:00pm at the San Juan Capistrano Regency Theater. Come early and join us at 6:00pm upstairs in Rick's Cafe for Happy Hour (26762 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano, CA. 92675) 949-661-3456. Screening El Presidente. Movie in Italian with English subtitles. Feb. 7, Fri.-San Trifone Society General Meeting. Mass at 6:00pm, 7:00pm at Casa Italiana (1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012). For information call Angela Gallidoro (323)255-2163 or Mike Foschetti (323) 257-0302. Feb. 9, Sun. – Mother Cabrini Chapel and Library Open House, 9 am to 1 pm hosted by ICF/LAADC/Los Angeles Region. 3801 Scott Road, Burbank, CA. Groups may schedule visit to Mother Cabrini Chapel and Library by contacting Carmelo Sabatella at (626) 372-7812. Feb. 9, Sun.-Associazione Pugliese del Sud California & San Padre Pio Society's One Day Turnaround Bus Trip Fundraiser to Pechanga. There will be two buses, each accommodating 40 people. One will leave from Arcadia 745 W. Naomi ( CVS- corner of Naomi and Baldwin) Time: 8:30am; The other bus will leave from St. Peter's Italian Church (small parking at the corner) Time: 9:00am. Must have paid reservation by Feb 3 to guarantee seating. Cost: $25 per person ( each person will receive $ 5 free play). Raffle, refreshments and game will be offered on your bus trip. Please be sure to specify which location you wish to leave from when making reservation. For reservation please call: Tonia Tenerelli (626) 233-7402, (626) 285-6267 or Maria Bruno: (818) 241-4672, (818) 726-4677(cell). Feb. 9, Sun. - ICF Mother Cabrini Chapel & Library Committee Meeting at 1 pm. 3801 Scott Road, Burbank, CA. For information, call (626) 372-7812.

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